Well, it’s the new year and 2008 has been a truly incredible one for me, with more traveling than I’ve done in a long time, so I thought I’d go through my top five moments from 2008 as well as my one most memorable moment of the year.

1. Completing production and release of Elika Mahony’s Fire and Gold CD
2. Traveling to China for the first time and then getting to go again the same year
3. Getting to experience the most amazing and modern city on the planet, Hong Kong
4. North American Theatrical release of feature film I was sound designer for, Sweet Amerika
5. Launch of my new, innovative record label, Pro Soul Alliance

It was hard to pick just five amongst all the incredible things that happened this year, like the exciting new music I produced for Heather Dore, my trip to Las Vegas with Felisha, the collaborative music promotional project with talented artist, Laura Harley, ‘enjoy the cylons‘ which was viewed by over 16,000 people, the california Baha’i music weekend, Working with the talented Phil Morrison & Keith Williams, Jing R, and Cheng LIn in Beijing, and the completion of various other video and music projects…

If I had to pick one most exciting and incredible moment though, It would probably have to be getting stuck in the middle of a raging Nahatlatch river with my nephew Aaron while Whitewater rafting and getting out of it with barely a scratch!

I had a really tough year in 2007, so I had decided this would be an amazing year of travel and exciting things, and it sure was! Amazing how when you really set your mind on something, it happens.

As for last years resolutions unfortunately things didn’t go so well with them. In fact I actually managed to offend some people I truly care about with some of my blog posts and other casual blunt remarks…  So this year no resolutions, except a determination to improve balance in my life, and drastically simplify things over the next 2 years so I don’t have to work so damn hard all the time.

This first blog post of 2009 is particularly exciting for me because it’s the first one I’ve done using speech recognition software, Dragon MacSpeech Dictate, the best in the world. My typing is terrible ever since I quit that pre-widespread computer use high school typing class (because why on earth would I need to type people letters?)
So yes I actually spoke everything you just read, which I feel gives things a little more personal touch don’t you?

Enjoy 2009, and all the best to you!

• Is going to see The Day The Earth Stood Still! I live for these kinds of flicks…will report later. #
• is happy to report that ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’ is a great film, although it could have been more developed, I loved it! Inspiring. #
• posted a cool photo I like to call ‘nuclear sunset’ http://tinyurl.com/nuclearsunset more to come when I get some time… #
• Oh, come on, @moearora Step Brothers is crude and juvenile, but I recently saw it and there are some truly humorous moments in that movie #
• Is excited that Cypress mountain just opened for skiing. Got a night pass, who in Vancity is going this season? #
• @TJsDJs if you spend over $1000 just cuz someone has produced an artist that’s gotten lucky or bought some fame, your wasting your money! in reply to TJsDJs #
• HAZIQ Retweet: Bush Dodges Shoes Thrown by Iraqi Journalist. Supposedly Iraqi symbol of contempt – Link to video http://tinyurl.com/6kd96p #
• is mixing Elika’s CD, then off to Olympia, Washington with Roshena for a Pro Soul meeting with Jose aka Luvva J #
• Is driving to Washington… Listening to Phil Morrison & Keith Williams, Jazz http://www.philmorrisontrio.com #
• Is in Seattle… Listening to Above & Beyond mixes #
• Is hangin with Jose in Olympia, Wa #
• is back in Van now #
• Is juggling WAY too many things again! Duties & people are getting neglected. Think I need a life coach but can’t afford it now. #
• @peteratomic so glad your enjoying the new net knowledge! That is the tip of the iceberg, Pro Soul has a lot more cool things to assist… in reply to peteratomic #
• is trying to do audio mixing, but the heater is too loud to listen properly, so it’s off & I am freezing! I need to find a silent heater… #
• @LauraHarley Thanks Laura! Before I even read your reply, Felisha had ordered some of those… snowing for the last 24 hours here in reply to LauraHarley #
• Posted another photo blog, this one is other worldly… http://tinyurl.com/coolphoto Christmas related stuff including music is coming soon! #
• Is mixing the last track for Elika’s album. #
• learned YouTube users upload 13 hours of video per minute to the service, and they monetize copyrighted material…http://tinyurl.com/94567y #
• Is recording a new album with the sweet sounding Bahiyyih this weekend… #
• Is working with Bahiyyih in the studio despite the snow & cold… Nothing will stop her sweet music from flowing! #
• Checking out @MrTweet, my assistant for discovering influencers in my network! http://mrtweet.net?c=11! #
• Is recording guitarwith Eric Harper who just flew in from LA #
• disappointed to see Hillary has become the new Brittany, even though we all knew she would be… http://tinyurl.com/hillaryYouTube #
• I prefer the original version of the Hillary song better, from an artist that actually has talent! Depeche Mode: http://twurl.nl/x3dt1p #
• Retweeting @Miss604: Tree fell on skytrain track in Vancouver, Cap Rd to Horseshoe Bay, Upper Levels Hwy closed http://tinyurl.com/a4sxtp #
• Happy Holidays! http://twurl.nl/crpmgh #
• Amazed at the terrible and boring updates people make on social networking during the holidays… are we all that bored? #
• JC Penney made wakeup calls to customers who signed up to get them into the stores? Crazy! Now thats desperation. http://tinyurl.com/7oyj3a #

The year end holiday festivities are upon us, and you always hear that ‘Christmas is a time for giving’, and of course because you have to exchange gifts, lots of giving goes on… But I always think it’s a little sad that the idea of St. Nick giving to those who had nothing to cheer their hearts (not because they got stuff, but because someone showed caring and compassion) has become something that is more materialistic.
Don’t get me wrong, I think gift giving is fantastic, I just usually prefer to do it when I feel like it or find the right thing for a person…

But I feel to truly be giving in the sense of the word that inspired the first Christmas, a lot of change has to happen, not only in society but in the heart of individuals. It seems this is very difficult for most of us, especially in the west as we live in a selfish society. We’re absorbed with ourselves, and taught from an early age that we need to not only do things that will benefit ourselves, but that everything we need in life comes from us (A rapidly growing and dangerous new age idea that seems to be causing a generation of confused ego obsessed individuals).
This has caused a lot of unhappiness, as it has been scientifically proven that giving makes one happier than being selfish (Youngsteadt). Luckily people are starting to learn about these ideas, and how dangerous ego is to happiness, and I hope it creates a shift from the unhealthy attitude that has spread the world in recent generations.

China and other countries in Asia seem to think differently about this. That is because they are more of a culture of service. They’re used to serving, giving and and working hard, and it is just a way of life that has been learned from a young age.

So then if we want to define giving, we need to establish the true meaning of giving, because just giving money to help those who are in need is a temporary band-aid fix, and that has been proven for over 30 years with the results of the persistent problems in Africa as well as North America that have been fed large amounts of money. Giving in this way doesn’t solve the root of the problem of need. I believe the root of the problem of need is due to greed that creates an imbalance. I believe that this tendency towards greed is eliminated by becoming an individual of service to humanity in ones daily life.

In defining giving then, the solution to the root of the problem comes back to the attitudes of individuals. In order to truly be giving people, and not just at a certain time of the year, at a young age, people need to get used to the idea of being of service to others, to society, to humanity, by accepting that it is a normal part of their life.

One of the few organization I know that seems to be truly helping to do this through effective methods that will have long term results worldwide is the Baha’i communities around the world, especially in the last 10 years. Since the 1970’s, when they proved such programs effective in Columbia, Baha’i’s have committed to this idea of giving by becoming of service, starting with the needs of their local community. Because the numbers are still small, the results are subtle, but still effective.
There are countless examples of the effect of giving through service in this way, here are a few:

Systematic service training showing results worldwide

Ugandand project doesn’t stop at literacy

Baha’i Youth program in Italy gives hope

Poverty Eradication

So this year, if you really, truly want to give, become an individual of service, and give the ultimate gift of all! Join one of the many Baha’i programs that are training individuals to do this in your local neighborhood.
It is likely to make you feel happier, and make your life feel more meaningful!

I decided to 9 years ago, and it is been a very fulfilling and enlightening experience for me.

I hope this post hasn’t come across as overly idealistic or preachy, but when you’ve seen real solutions to the problems of the world first hand, it’s hard not to share them.

Thanks for reading, and have a great holiday season!

Everyone likes Christmas music during the holidays, so here’s a link to my post from last year with some of the few original Christmas tunes I’ve done over the years:
Some Old Christmas Songs

The difference is, this year, as a Christmas gift, you can download & do whatever you like with them:
www.jarome.com/downloads/

For a limited time only!

We’ve had a lot of snow in Vancouver, and across Canada lately, I posted about ‘The sweet serenity of snow’ last year as well.

Took this in the fall, wanted to post it then but was too busy… Burning Trees:

People seemed to like the last photo I posted, so here is another I shot this October in California, and this time, it comes with a deep spiritual quote, because that’s the kind of thing this photo evokes:

Light In Trees, Bosch Baha’i School, Santa Cruz California

“Just as the material sun shines over the earth and causes the growth and development of material organisms, so also, through the Divine Manifestation, the Sun of Truth shines upon the world of heart and soul, and educates the thoughts, morals and characters of men.”

– Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era

Burning sunset outside the studio, shot with the camera phone.

Every time I go to China, despite stereotypes, misconceptions and communism, I see great advantages to the culture there, especially in big cities like Shanghai and Beijing. But I didn’t realise how important the arts really were until reading this article form Asia Times:

www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JL02Ad01.html

Warning, if your american, this may likely offend you, because the truth hurts!

Key point mentioned is that “American musical education remains the best in the world, the legacy of the European refugees who staffed the great conservatories, and the best Asian musicians come to America to study. [However] According to the head of one conservatory, Americans simply don’t have the discipline to practice eight hours a day.”

I went to see the new James Bond movie Quantum Of Solace the other day with low expectations. I know the new movies are about Bond’s early days, but the modernized Bond has lost all the things that made Bond unique in the action adventure genre, and now it’s become just another Mission Impossible, Die Hard standard film. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but it lacked the unique entertaining qualities Bond used to have, and without Q and his gadgets, it’s a tough sell really. (I really loved John Cleese as Q and miss him a lot)

What was really appalling though was the theme song for the intro credits that every Bond film has with the dancing silhouettes and Bond pointing his gun and all. This song, “Another Way To Die” performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, was just atrocious and a terrible choice for a Bond film that in the past have had very strong themes to introduce the film, a trademark of the series. That a song this bad and poorly suited to the film could be placed in such a major release is a sure sign of the record industry’s demise (It was coordinated by Warner Bros). Just my opinion, but I thought it was a lame choice.

But for me this goes a lot further than opinion, and is really all about what makes a good song, something the record industry seems to have forgotten. Luckily, the Do It Yourself movement and the new music industry, which is putting music business back in the hands of artists, is going to be all about the quality of the song, and of music in general, something that has been a long time coming.

Call me old fashioned, but these are songs worthy of a Bond movie (ignore the retro visuals…):

Duran Duran: “View To A Kill”

Sheena Easton: “For Your Eyes Only”

I’m back from an amazing and productive trip to Beijing where I got to meet and work with some fantastic new artists as well as the immensely talented Elika Mahony. I blogged all about it on the new Pro Soul site, where I will be posting a lot of my music business entries from now on: www.prosoul.com

Yes, that’s right, Pro Soul Alliance, the new innovative 21st century record label is now live and ready to take on the artists of a new music industry! It’s a very exciting accomplishment, and we’ve put countless hours of research and effort into creating a truly ground breaking solution for artists everywhere.
We’ve assembled an amazing international team that is consistently expanding to provide an incredible range of services and research to assist artists of all genres from all over the world to connect with their audience and monetize their music in new ways that reflect the changes in the way people want to hear music.
There is really nothing like Pro Soul out there for artists and you will undoubtedly be hearing more about it in the near future! Would love to hear your comments and feedback.

It sure has been an exciting year, and things are just getting going! Hard to beleive it’s almost December.